Issue link: https://read.uberflip.com/i/1423232
Report Title: Wi-Fi & LoRaWAN ® deployment synergies Issue Date: September 2019 Version: 1.0. final version 44 LoRa Alliance & Wireless Broadband Alliance Confidential & Proprietary Copyright © 2019 LoRaWAN ® interconnection model LoRaWAN ® interconnection has been specified by LoRa Alliance under LoRaWAN ® 1.03 [40] specification. Public LoRaWAN ® operators already began to interconnect, such as Objenious, Proximus, and Swisscom, as well as Orange and KPN. Moreover, several LoRaWAN ® Network operators connected to the Actility roaming hub (ThingPark Exchange). Objenious expects more than 6 countries interconnected by end of 2019 in Europe and more than 50 on an international level in 2020. The use case for network interconnect is not limited to moving objects such as trackers. One of the main drivers is ubiquitous activation of devices using "activation away from home", and simplification of security procedures by avoiding complex key ceremonies. Large manufacturers like Schneider Electric interconnect to Orange or Swisscom network via the ThingPark Exchange roaming hub (international roaming hub), making it possible to activate devices out of factories anywhere in France or Switzerland leveraging roaming capabilities. This greatly simplifies logistics when devices transit via a complex distribution network. Major Secure Element suppliers such as STmicro collaborate with interconnected providers to allow secure remote network joining via such roaming hubs without any key transfer. Other roaming hubs like Everynet or Syniverse and more in the near future will become available to provide additional roaming capabilities to the LoRa ® ecosystem. Progressively, it is expected that all public networks will be interconnected, and all major module makers and device vendors will also support activation via roaming platforms, simplifying the life of solution providers, distributors and end users. Either through Peer2Peer connections or Hub connections, the roaming agreements between LoRaWAN ® operators will provide international connectivity for customers. Interconnection options between Wi-Fi and LoRaWAN ® As frequently highlighted in most of IoT papers, the key challenge of IoT is to receive the benefit from data analytics and also to serve use cases on different verticals. It raises the question of how to merge valuable information coming from Wi-Fi and LoRaWAN ® technologies. The interconnection may happen at multiple levels: • Silicon level: module dual mode embedding Wi-Fi chip and LoRa ® chip on the same silicon to address combined use cases. Location services mentioned in this document are a good example of implementation. • Gateway level: It means that LoRaWAN ® network server and Wi-Fi cloud (IoT controller) functions are collocated on Gateway premises. This architecture makes sense in remote areas where back- haul latency is an issue and cloud can be directly back-hauled through a satellite connection. As mentioned earlier, LoRaWAN ® gateway and Wi-Fi Access Point can also be embedded in the same hardware. • Cloud level: application servers are able to manage payload coming from different IoT technologies. Need to get reliable back-haul infrastructure to join Gateway/ Access Point locations. When designing the combined Wi-Fi / LoRaWAN ® network, the following questions have to be addressed in order to optimize operations and quality of service: